The U.S. Department of Education is finalizing a plan to help teachers who have been wrongly saddled with debt because of a federal grant program, according to a report by NPR.

NPR reports that thousands of teachers have been burdened with debt after their federal TEACH Grants were converted into loans with interest. The grant program requires teachers to submit paperwork annually for four years to certify they’re teaching in a low-income school. However, NPR stated the form is so obscure that even the Department of Education called it "too complicated and confusing" in one internal document.

The TEACH grant program is designed to attract young teachers, who need help paying for their own college education, to positions at schools within low-income areas. However, the grant recipients could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in loans if they submit their paperwork late or incorrectly.

The education department’s federal student aid website states teachers who lost their grants because of paperwork problems will be given a second chance to prove they were meeting the program's teaching requirements. NPR reported that the department will reach out to teachers it thinks might qualify for the fix, but other TEACH recipients are encouraged to reach out to the department as well.

NPR reported the debts will be erased for teachers who can prove they have fulfilled all four years of service. Additionally, the department says the balances will be erased for teachers who have been paying back their loans, and their balances will be refunded with whatever they paid into the system. The department’s website stated the department is working to finalize the details of its fix by the end of January.